New signs are set to make our bus trips even smoother
Going by bus in Renfrewshire is now easier and more convenient than ever before due to ongoing efforts to improve information at bus stops.
Renfrewshire Council and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport ( SPT) have been working to introduce real- time digital information displays at bus stops, using funding provided by the Scottish Government’s Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme.
The Paisley – Renfrew – Glasgow corridor is the latest route to benefit from the investment with new displays now live, after similar displays were installed along the A761 Glasgow Road corridor in 2018.
Councillor Marie McGurk, convener of the council’s Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, said: “It’s great that bus passengers in Renfrewshire will now have high quality information available at more bus stops on when their bus is due.
“We want to ensure that bus services are improved for existing customers and we will continue to work with SPT and McGIlls Buses to make this happen.
“Real time information provides passengers with even more confidence when travelling and will encourage more people to use bus services within Renfrewshire.”
Real-time information gives passengers at the bus stop live updates on the expected arrival of their bus by tracking its actual location and comparing it to the scheduled timetable. If the bus is running late, it will outline how much longer passengers may have to wait.
As well as the system being available at bus stops, real time information can be accessed by the McGills Buses mobile app so passengers can make decisions while on the move or before heading off to the bus stop.
David Wilson, chair of SPT operations committee, added: “Having reliable and real time passenger information for passengers is essential.
“Quite rightly, there is a demand from bus users, local authority colleagues as well as bus operators to ensure up to date service information is available to the travelling public.
“I am delighted we have now established RTPI for bus passengers in Renfrewshire, which should make their experience of using public transport much better, offering a very viable alternative to the car. I’d also remind passengers that for any stops that do not have displays, real time bus information is available via the Traveline Scotland app and website.”
The effectiveness and quality of the new displays will be continually monitored to ensure they provide an accurate, highquality service for passengers.